Orrefors & Kosta: some identification notes

Orrefors numbering:

Until 1923/24, Art Glass patterns were hand-drawn in pencil in pattern-books. Subsequently, printed catalogues were produced. (Note: Not all designs were dated, so numbers in brackets in the tables below should be taken as approximate first or last designs for the year in question)

For full details of numbering systems, together with illustrations of the early patterns and copies of the Orrefors catalogues, see 'Swedish Glass Factories Production Catalogues, 1915 - 1960' by Helmut Ricke & Lars Thor (published 1987 by Prestel, ISBN 3-7913-0804-1)

First numbering system (1917 to 1931):(all engraved art glass)

design year

Simon Gate

Edward Hald

Vicke Lindstrand

1917/1918

G 40, 41, 62 - (117)

H 35, 50 - 90, 116

1919

G (118) - 127

H 91 - (130)(not H 116)

1920

G 128 - 174

H 131 - 193

1921

G 175 - 184

H 194 - 248

1922

G 185 - 213

H 249 - 293

1923

G 214 - 273

H 294 - (350)

1924

G 274 - 327

H (351) - (472)

1925

G 328 - (358)

H (473) - (509)

1926

G (359) - 410

H (510) - (589)

1927

G (411) - 434

H (590) - 673

1928

G 435 - 509

H 674 - (840)

1929

G 510 - 534

H (841) - (860)

L 51 - 58

1930

G 535 - 553

H (861) - (890)

L 59 - 118

1931

G 554 570

H (891) - (948)(last design dated 24/3/1931)

Second numbering system (catalogues 1 to 8):

The three tables below show the significance of the letters and numbers in Orrefors' second and subsequent numbering systems

Kosta glass by Vicke Lindstrand:

Some Kosta pieces designed by Vicke Lindstrand carry a full engraved signature. Others are engraved with a two-letter code (beginning with an L for Lindstrand), followed by a number. These appeared in the Kosta catalogues as laid out in the following table, although, of course, Lindstrand will have produced the designs during the two or three years prior to publication of the catalogue.